Attitudes toward direct predictive testing for the Huntington disease gene. Relevance for other adult-onset disorders. The Canadian Collaborative Group on Predictive Testing for Huntington Disease.

Abstract

A direct mutation test for HD will most readily be accepted by persons who wanted but could not previously receive a result in the linkage test program and those who previously received an increased-risk result. In the absence of therapy, the majority of persons who previously chose not to have predictive testing are unlikely to participate in a new test despite improved accuracy. This has implications for the expected demands for testing services for other adult-onset genetic disorders.